Open house showcases plans for continuing Firestone Library renovation

Several posters describing the renovation progress were on display, along with blank posters, which attendees covered with anonymous suggestions written on Post-it notes supplied at the open house.

The renovations are scheduled to take 10 years to complete.

Jeffrey Rowlands, library fiscal officer, explained that the work has been divided into “smaller chunks” in order to minimize the amount of books moved out of the building at a time, while still providing patrons with quiet study areas.

“We can do the work much faster, take over a lot of the building, but we will have to move a significant number of collections to off-site storage, and we really would not want to do that,” he said. “We would basically have a whole series of students who would not have this resource available to them. We’re talking, say, six years of students.”

According to one poster, common challenges faced by library users include difficulty in locating books, poor lighting, limited access to power, poor cell phone signals and uncomfortable seating arrangements.

Other inadequacies were related to sustainability, heating and cooling systems, electrical systems, acoustics and navigability.

The goals for the current phase include creating additional shelving on the C-Floor of the library and extending the northwest stairwell to the third floor. The subsequent phase of renovation beginning in fall 2011 will aim to improve heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems.

Some parts of the library will be cordoned off while the renovation is in progress, Rowlands said. During the phase beginning in fall 2011, large parts of the A-floor will be unavailable for use.

“We’re working very hard to put signage all over the building to indicate where we’re doing work, Rowlands said. “We’re also trying to promote alternate study areas.”

Some anonymous suggestions left by members of the campus community called for more study spaces with natural lighting, increased hours of operation and a larger number of carrels and lockers.

“I think a lot of students are concerned about natural lighting. Everyone wants more windows,” said Catharine Bellinger ’12, who attended the open house.

“I’d like nicer carrel spaces,” Sarah Vitali ’11 said.